Matthew 1:21 (NIV) - She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” - The prophecy foretold in the old testament was soon to be fulfilled. The event that the Jews had waited so long for was finally coming. The Savior who could take away their sin and make them justified before God would be born. In his usual style God didn't do things like we probably would have. He allowed Christ to be born in a simple animal manger, not in a fancy palace located in a great city. And he first announced the happening not to v.i.p.s, but to shepherds, who in those days were pretty low on the social ladder. Despite all this humility Christ was recognized by those present for who he was and they bowed to him as their Savior and king. Many have asked and still ask "how could the Messiah have a human birth, wouldn't he have to be just a human then?" No, the Bible tells us that Christ had a dual nature, being both God and man at the same time (Philippians 2:6-7, N.I.V - Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.) Why would God do all this ? He takes our sins (transgressions to God's law) so seriously that we can lose our eternal salvation because of them. But because he would prefer that we not be lost Jesus was sent to be our Messiah because there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. This Christmas while we're enjoying the festivities at our homes, if any, we should remember "the reason for the season" as the saying goes and the words of Acts 4:12 (Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” ) Merry Christmas everyone!